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PBESIDENT 

McKINLErS 

Last Public Address 


Pfoclam atloii 





WILLIAM McKinley 
P resident of the United States 

Born January 29, 1843 
Died September 14, 1901 


Address of the President 

The President spoke for exactly thirty minutes. 
He said : 

President Milburn, Director-General Buchanan, 
Commissioners, Ladies and Gentlemen : I am glad 
to be again in the City of Buffalo and exchange 
greetings with her people, to whose generous hos- 
pitality I am not a stranger, and with whose good 
will I have been re]>batedly and signally honored. 
To-day I have additional satisfaction in meeting 
and giving welcome to the Foreign Kepresentatives 
assembled here, whose i)resence and participation 
in this Exposition have contributed in so marked 
a degree to its interest and success. To the com- 
missioners of the Dominion of Canada and the 
British Colonies, the French Colonies, the Kepub- 
lics of Mexico and of Central and South America, 

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imd the commissioners of Cuba and Porto Rico, 
who share with us in this undertaking, we give the 
hand of fellowship and felicitate with them upon 
the triumphs of art, science, education and manu- 
facture, which the old has bequeathed to the new 
century. 

Expositions are the time-keepers of progress. 
They record the world’s advancement. They stimu- 
late the energy, enterprise and intellect of the peo- 
ple, and quicken human genius. They go into the 
home. They broaden and brighten the daily life 
of the people. They open mighty storehouses of 
information to the student. Every exposition, 
great or small, has helped to some onward step. 
Comparison of ideas is always educational, and as 
such instructs the brain and hand of man. Friendly 
rivalry follows, which is the spur to industrial 
improvement, the inspiration to useful invention, 
and to high endeavor in all departments of human 
activity. It exacts a study of the wants, comforts, 
and even the whims of the people, and recognize^ 
the efficacy of high quality and low prices to win 
their favor. The quest for trade is an incentive to 
men of business to devise, invent, improve and 
economize in the cost of production. Business life, 
whether among ourselves or with other peoples, is 
ever a sharp struggle for success. It will be none 
the less so in the future. Without competition we 
would be clinging to the clumsy and antiquated 
processes of farming and manufacture, and the 
methods of business of long ago, and the twentieth 
would be no farther advanced than the eighteenth 
century. But though commercial competitors we 
are, commercial enemies we must not be. 


OUR REMARKABLE PROGRESS. 

The Pan-American Exposition has done its work 
thoroughly ; presenting in its exhibits evidences of 
the highest skill, and illustrating the progress of 
the human family in the Western Hemisphere. 
This portion of the earth has no cause for humilia- 
tion for the part it has performed in the march of 
civilization. It has not accomplished everything; 
far from it. It has simply done its best, and with- 
out vanity or boastfulness, and recognizing the 
manifold achievements of others, it invites the 
friendly rivalry of all the Powers in the peaceful 


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pursuits of trade and commerce, and will co-oper- 
ate with all in advancing the highest and best 
interests of humanity. The wisdom and energy of 
all the nations are none too great for the world’s 
work. The success of art, science, industry and 
invention is an international asset and a common 
glory. 

After all, how near one to the other is every part 
of the world. Modern inventions have brought 
into close relation widely separated peoples and 
made them better acquainted. Geographic and 
political divisions will continue to exist, but dis- 
tances have been effaced. Swift shii)s and fast 
trains are becoming cosmopolitan. They invade 
fields which a few years ago were impenetrable. 
The world’s products are exchanged as never before, 
and with increasing transportation facilities come 
increasing knowledge and larger trade. Prices are 
fixed with mathematical precision by supply and 
demand. The world’s selling prices are regulated 
by market and crop reports. ‘ We travel greater 
distances in a shorter space of time, and with 
more ease than was ever dreamed of by our 
fathers. 

Isolation is no longer possible or desirable. The 
same important news is read, though in different 
languages, the same day in all Christendom. The 
telegraph keeps us advised of what is occurring 
everywhere, and the press foreshadows with more 
or less accuracy the plans and purposes of the 
nations. Market prices of products and securities 
are hourly known in every commercial mart, and 
the investments of the people extend beyond their 
own national boundaries into the remotest part of 
the earth. Vast transactions are conducted and 
international exchanges are made by the tick of 
the cable. Every event of interest is immediately 
bulletined. The quick gathering and transmission 
of news, like rapid transit, are of recent origin, and 
are only made possible by the genius of the in- 
ventor and the courage of the investor. It took a 
special messenger of the Government, with every 
facility known at the time for rapid travel, nine- 
teen days to go from the City of Washington 
to New Orleans with a message to General Jack- 
son that the war with England had ceased, and a 
treaty of peace had been signed. How different 
now I 


THE TELEGRAPH AND CABLE. 


We reached General Miles in Porto Rico by cable, 
and he was able through the military telegraph to 
stop his army on the firing line with the message 
that the United States and Spain had signed a 
protocol suspending hostilities. We knew almost 
instantly of the first shots fired at Santiago, and 
the subsequent surrender of the Spanish forces was 
known at Washington within less than an hour of 
its consummation. The first ship of Cervera’s fleet 
had hardly emerged from that historic harbor when 
the fact was flashed to our capital, and the swift 
destruction that followed was announced immedi- 
ately through the wonderful medium of telegraphy. 
So accustomed are we to safe and easy communica- 
tion with distant lands, that its temporary inter- 
ruption even in ordinary times results in loss and 
inconvenience. We shall never forget the days of 
anxious waiting and awful suspense when no infor- 
mation was permitted to be sent from Pekin, and 
the diplomatic representatives of the nations in 
China, cut off from all communication, inside and 
outside of the walled capital, were surrounded by 
an angry and misguided mob that threatened their 
lives; nor the joy that thrilled the world when a 
single message from the Government of the United 
States brought through our Minister the first news 
of the safety of the besieged diplomats. 

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there 
was not a mile of steam railroad on the globe. Now 
there are enough miles to make its circuit many 
times. Then there was not a line of electric tele- 
graph ; now we have a vast mileage traversing all 
lands and all seas. God and man have linked the 
nations together. No nation can longer be indiffer- 
ent to any other. And as we are brought more and 
more in touch with each other, the less occasion is 
there for misunderstandings, and the stronger the 
disposition, when we have differences, to adjust 
them in the court of arbitration, which is the noblest 
forum for the settlement of international disputes. 


PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY. 

My fellow citizens, trade statistics indicate that 
this country is in a state of unexampled prosperity. 
The figures are almost appalling. They show that 
we are utilizing our fields and forests and mines, 


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and that we are furnishinj? profitable employment 
to the millions of workinj^men throughout the 
United States, bringing comforts and happiness to 
their homes, and making it iiossihle to lay by sav- 
ings for old age and disability. That all the people 
are participating in this great iirosyierity is seen 
in every American community, and shown by the 
enormous and unprecedented deposits in our sav- 
ings banks. Our duty in the care and security of 
these deposits and their safe investment demands 
the highest integrity and the best business capacity 
of those in charge of these depositories of the peo- 
ple’s earnings. 

We have a vast and intricate business built up 
through years of toil and struggle, in which every 
part of the country has its stake, which will not 
permit of either neglect or of undue selfishness. No 
narrow, sordid policy will subserve it. The great- 
est skill and wisdom on the part of manufacturers 
and producers will be required to hold and increase 
it. Our industrial enterprises, which have grown 
to such great proportions, affect the homes and 
occupations of the people and the welfare of the 
country. Our ca])acity to produce has developed 
so enormously, and our products have so multi- 
plied, that the problem of more markets requires 
our urgent and immediate attention. Only a broad 
and enlightened policy will keep what we have. No 
other policy will get more. In these times of mar- 
velous business energy and gain we ought to be 
looking to the future, strengthening the weak places 
in our industrial and commercial systems, that we 
may be ready for any storm or strain. 

By sensible trade arrangements which will not 
interrupt our home production, we shall extend the 
outlets for our increasing suri)lus. A system which 
provides a mutual exchange of commodities is 
manifestly essential to the continued and healthful 
growth of our export trade. We must not repose 
in fancied security that we can forever sell every- 
thing and buy little or nothing. If such a thing 
were possible, it would not be best for us or for 
those with whom we deal. We should take from 
our customers such of their products as we can use 
without harm to our industries and labor. Reci- 
procity is the natural outgrowth of our wonderful 
industrial development under the domestic policy 
now firmly established. 


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FOREIGN OUTLET TO TRADE. 

What we produce beyond our domestic con- 
sumption must have a vent abroad. The excess 
must be relieved through a foreign outlet, and we 
should sell everywhere we can and buy wherever 
the buying will enlarge our sales and production, 
and thereby make a greater demand for home 
labor. 

The period of exclusiveness is past. The ex- 
pansion of our trade and commerce is the pressing 
problem. Commercial wars are unprofitable. A 
policy of good will and friendly trade relations 
will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity treaties are in 
harmony with the spirit of the times ; measures of 
relations are not. 

If perchance some of our tariffs are no longer 
needed for revenue or to encourage and protect 
our industries at home, w^hy should they not be 
employed to extend and promote our markets 
abroad ? Then, too, we have inadequate steamship 
service. New lines of steamers have already been 
put in commission between the Pacific coast ports 
of the United States and those on the western* 
coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. 
These should be followed up with direct steamship 
lines between the eastern coast of the United 
States and South American ports. One of the 
needs of the times are direct commercial lines from 
our vast fields of production to the fields of con- 
sumption that we have but barely touched. Next 
in advantage to having the thing to sell is to have 
the conveyance to carry it to the buyer. We must 
encourage our merchant marine. We must have 
more ships. They must be under the American 
flag, built and manned and owned by Americans. 
These will not only be profitable in a commercial 
sense ; they will be messengers of peace and amity 
wherever they go. We must build the Isthmian 
Canal, which will unite the two oceans and give a 
straight line of water communications with the 
western coasts of Central and South America and 
Mexico. And, finally, our interests in the Pacific 
Ocean will not longer tolerate delay in the con- 
struction of a cable which shall connect us with 
Hawaii and the Philippines. 


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WORK OF THE EXPOSITION. 


In the fiirthenince of these ol)jects of national 
interest and concern you are performing an im- 
portant part. This exposition would have touched 
the heart of that American statesman whose mind 
was ever alert and thought ever constant for a 
larger commerce and a truer fraternity of the re- 
publics of the New World. His broad American 
spirit is felt and manifested here. He needs no 
identification to an assemblage of Americans any- 
where, for the name of Blaine is inseparably asso- 
ciated with the Pan-American movement, which 
finds here practical and substantial expression, 
and which we all hope will be firmly advanced by 
the Pan-American Congress that assembles this 
autumn in the capital of Mexico. The good work 
will go on. It can not be stopped. These build- 
ings will disappear ; this creation of art and beauty 
and industry will perish from sight, but their in- 
fluence will remain to 

“j\rake it live beyond its too short living 
With praises and thanksgiving.” 

Who can tell the new thoughts that have 
been awakened, the ambitions fired, and the high 
achievements that will be wrought through this 
exposition? Gentlemen, let us ever remember 
that our interest is in concord, not conflict; and 
that our real eminence rests in the victories of 
peace, not those of war. We hope that all who are 
represented here may be moved to higher and 
nobler effort for their own and the world’s good, 
. and that out of this city may come not only 
greater commerce and trade for us all, but, more 
essential than these, relations of mutual respect, 
confidence and friendship which will deepen and 
endure. 

Our earnest prayer is that God will graciously 
vouchsafe prosperity, happiness and peace to all 
our neighbors, and like blessings to all the peoples 
and powers of earth. 


7 



THE PERISTYLE OF THE ART BUILDING, LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION 





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They record the workTs advancemeoL^ 

•^President McKinley's last address. 


^I» ‘VilHam McKhileyt PresSdent ol the 
United States^ do hereby Invite a!i die nations 
of the earth to take part in the commemoratton 
of the Purchase of the Louisiana Territory^ 
an event of great interest to die United Statesi 
and of abiding effect upon their development/* 
•^President McKinley's last proclamation. 


Louisiana Purchase Exposition 

ST. LOUIS * * 41 1903 





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